Overnight Snowshoe Tour

Yes, you read that right. Overnight snowshoe tour on Tumalo Mountain. These are the faces of eight businessmen who decided that meeting indoors was overrated. They sought something a little more adventurous... and they came to the right place.

Instead of a conference table, they chose to share ideas around a campfire. Instead of a luxurious hotel room, they chose to dig their own snow trenches to keep warm at night. Instead of morning room service, they enjoyed breakfast on top of a mountain. Instead of a regular weekend, they have memories to last a lifetime. 

They left Bend on a Wednesday morning and headed to Tumalo Mountain. With two Wanderlust Tours guides, they strapped on snowshoes and loaded up all the gear to start making the 700' ascent of the mountain. As they snowshoed through the snowy, forested area, their guide shared with them about the surrounding flora and fauna and what makes this place so special. They made camp somewhere near the top by digging trenches in the snow and covering them with tarps. See pictures below for evidence of the snowy fortresses they built! If you've ever been out in the snow at night, you know that a campfire is the best way to stay warm. Once camp was set up, they enjoyed dinner and drinks and conversation around the campfire. When the firewood ran out, it was time for bed. As the sun rose the next morning, they boiled water on the top of a mountain and made their own coffee (plus Ocean Rolls because what trip to Bend is complete without one?) before snowshoeing to the summit. It was an incredible 24 hour tour and we can't wait to do it again. Are you in next time?? 

Enjoy a few pictures from their snowy adventure!

Making snowmen? Or the start of a giant snowball fight? I guess we'll never know. 

Digging snow trenches on Tumalo Mountain. 

How to stay warm overnight in the snow:
1. Dig a trench.
2. Cover with a tarp.
3. Crawl inside with warm sleeping bag.

Snowshoeing to the summit - all smiles.

Can you picture your company doing something like this? Our group planners are itching to come up with an adventure that will inspire and unite your team. Your greatest memories are just around the Bend.

A Night to Remember

Where were you when you left 2017 behind and embraced the new year? 

As 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 31, 2017 turned into 12:00 AM on Monday, January first 2018, we popped bottles, shouted for joy, and took in the sweet surroundings. The clouds covered half the sky, but the light of the full moon couldn't be hidden. The orange and yellow flames from the bonfires danced on the snow and lit up the sides of the giant trees in the nearby forest. We warmed our hands with hot cups of cocoa as we sat in snow seats around the fires. Just before midnight, a saxophonist began playing nocturnes at the top of a nearby hill. It was an evening filled with magic from start to finish. We are so grateful to all who joined us for the journey. We have this feeling that 2018 might just be the best year yet. Happy New Year! 

Want to join us next year? Sign up today! 

Happy New Year!

2018 is here and we are so excited! But we couldn't leave 2017 behind before toasting to our top 5 favorite moments of the year. 

#5 - Les Stroud at the Tower Theatre
He shared tales of his exotic adventures and dazzled us with his melodic music. We enjoyed him so much that we created a brand new tour to feature him this year! Join us on June 8, 2018 for a kayak or cave tour with the amazing SURVIVORMAN! The purchase of each ticket to the tour also includes a ticket to the evening event at the Tower Theatre. Sign up for Art in Nature today! 

#4 - Our awesome staff outings to two cool rivers in Oregon
Twice a year our entire staff closes operation to gather together. We hike, canoe, camp, learn, cook over fire pits, and enjoy the sounds of nature together. This year we took a canoe trip in the spring and a kayak trip in the fall to enjoy stunning remote areas of Oregon. Can you see yourself as a guide? We'll be accepting applications for summer employment starting in March. Apply now! 

#3 - Cave Cleanup
We teamed up with Jimmy John's and several local companies to clean up some of our beloved caves. Armed with headlamps and trash bags, we searched for pieces of glass and other foreign objects in the caves and surrounding areas. We host a Cave Cleanup each year where people gather to give back to the land we love so much. It's also a great way to learn a little more about the caves and the bats that hibernate there in winter. If you'd like to join us this year, you can sign up now.

#2 - Winning Best Tour Company in Central Oregon
THANK YOU! We are so honored that you have come on our tours and voted for us to win. Thank you so much. We hope to continue to lead people on fantastic tours helping people of all ages enjoy and appreciate the natural world. One of our favorite blog posts of the year came after winning this award. We put together the "Best Day" in Bend that puts together an itinerary for enjoying some of the winners on the list. Read all about it and start your journey on the best day! 

#1 - The Total Solar Eclipse
We have tried, but words just haven't been adequate to describe the Total Solar Eclipse Experience. Pictures don't do it justice either because it was beyond what the camera could capture. (However our amazing guides DID take pictures and you can purchase your own.) We had the best time. And our lives are changed forever. Thank you for joining us.

2017 was remarkable, but we have a feeling 2018 is going to be even better. Thank you to all of you who have joined us on our journey! We would not be here without you!